Before the First "All Aboard"

By Kira Devitt, Napa Valley Wine Train Marketing

Many of us know the Napa Valley Wine Train. We know the gentle purr she makes as she passes our houses. We know her soft whistle as she crosses the street. Everyone knows about her, because she has been diligently traversing the valley for more than 20 years, but very few people actually know how she came to exist.

I, myself, fell into that category, which is especially sad, since my grandfather, Vincent DeDomenico, was the Wine Train President and CEO from 1987 until his death in 2007. I never thought to ask how it began, even though the Wine Train has been a part of my life since I was a little girl, riding the train for Thanksgiving, birthdays and family dinners. My grandparents are no longer with us to tell me their first hand account, so I sought out local Napa physician, Dr. Alvin Lee Block.

Dr. Block had lived in Napa since the 1960s, and by the early 80s had lost touch with the Valley’s natural beauty. After returning from a trip to Italy, with its impressive landscape and appreciative culture, he was able to regain his long lost admiration of our breathtaking countryside.

Inspired anew, Dr. Block worried that the Valley’s increasing popularity would add stress to its bucolic nature. Determined to stop traffic and pollution from flooding into the Valley along with the tourists, Block envisioned a more idyllic, European-style destination, where cars were optional instead of a necessity.

Block immediately thought of the fading railroad with its nearly limitless potential. At the time, Southern Pacific was only using the tracks once a week to haul freight to St. Helena. Block knew that once the Valley’s freight was solely transported via truck, the railroad would abandon the tracks, closing the transportation corridor forever. Block dreamed of breathing new life into the dying railroad. It could become a gateway to the Valley, giving Napa visitors the ability to travel car free. The train could possibly be used to get from town to town, winery to winery, whereby an increase in tourist revenue would no longer be directly tied to an increase in traffic or pollution, preserving the picturesque Napa countryside.

On a whim, Dr. Block called Southern Pacific Railroad suggesting a purchase by himself and a group of (imaginary) investors. To his surprise, they explained that they were extremely interested in selling. Dr. Block found himself in a unique situation. Southern Pacific was willing to sell, but he had no actual investors, no business background and no idea how to run a train. It was then, Dr. Block embarked on a three year journey to find people to finance and operate his new railroad. Eventually, Dr. Block met my grandfather, Vincent DeDomenico, who purchased the Wine Train with the goal of turning the train into one of the most elegant trains in the world.

I would like to thank Dr. Block for his vision and his perseverance in rescuing a piece of history from the brink of extinction.

Dr. Block has recently published a book titled, A Dragon in the Valley: The Founding of the Napa Valley Wine Train. In his book, Dr. Block shares his saved notes, journal entries and thoughts from when Wine Train began. If you are interested in his book, a copy can be purchased by contacting the Art Council of Napa Valley at 707-257-2117. All proceeds from the sale of his book will be donated to the Art Council of Napa Valley.

The official book release party will be on March 6th, 2011 at the Napa Valley Wine Train Station

Visit the Event page for more details.